Music Therapy at Central Coast Conservatorium of Music
Music Therapy at Central Coast Conservatorium provides tailored Music Therapy for individuals and groups. This service is open to people of all ages and abilities on the Central Coast and provides client-centred goals and objectives.
What is Music Therapy?
Music Therapy differs from music education as its main goal is not to develop musical skills or learn a new instrument, but rather to aim to improve a person's health, functioning and well-being in a therapeutic setting that uses music interventions as the primary tool. Goals such as increasing social skills, providing ways to interact and communicate verbally and non verbally, developing cognitive awareness, gaining sensory motor skills, promoting relaxation, providing opportunities for reminiscence, working towards rehabilitation and providing opportunities for self expression can all be addressed through various Music Therapy techniques. An example of techniques that might be employed in a typical Music Therapy session are improvisation, song-writing, action songs, music and movement, receptive music and familiar song singing.
Who is Music Therapy for?
Many people of all ages and abilities can benefit from Music Therapy. Populations that Music Therapy may be used with include children and adults with:
- intellectual and/or physical disabilities
- mood disorders
- neurological disorders
- rehabilitation for stroke patients
- behavioural problems
- elderly and dementia patients
What are Music Therapy goals?
Music Therapy sessions are structured according to the goals set out between the therapist and the client before sessions start. They may meet physical, psychological, social or emotional goals. These are then monitored throughout the sessions and evaluated at the end of a program or school term.
Music Therapy and Autism
Music Therapy and Dementia
The effect of music to bring back special memories for people with dementia has been illustrated in various studies, as well as its positive effects on behaviours such as anxiety, agitation, sleeplessness and wandering. As music pervades so many areas of the brain, it continues to function well after other parts of the brain do not. For people with dementia, music can provide moments of clarity and allow them to reminisce about special memories. It can also provide discussion points for groups, which can promote social connectedness and a sense of belonging.
Music Therapy and Rehabilitation
Access more Music Therapy Information via the links below:
About Us

Term Dates
The Central Coast Conservatorium operates to NSW Department of Education School Gazetted Term dates
Term 1
Tuesday 28/1 to Thursday 9/4
(Saturday Strings concludes 4 April)
Term 2
Monday 27/4 to Saturday 4/7
(Saturday Strings concludes 27 June)
Term 3
Monday 20/7 to Saturday 26/9
(Saturday Strings concludes 19 September)
Term 4
Monday 12/10 to Saturday 19/12
(Saturday Strings concludes 12 December)
Mission Statement
We seek to inspire our Central Coast community to engage in and value music as an integral part of life through comprehensive music education and artistic endeavour.